Starbucks raising prices againAssociated Press NEW YORK — Starbucks is raising prices again starting Tuesday, with the increases ranging from 5 to 20 cents for most affected drinks, the company said. The Seattle-based company raised prices nationally about a year ago. A small and large brewed coffee will each go up by 10 cents in most areas of the country, Starbucks says. That would bring the price of a large coffee to $2.45 in most U.S. stores. Some other coffee sellers a...

Why ‘Minion’ curse words might just all be in your headNEW YORK — McDonald’s swears up and down that the little yellow “Minions” Happy Meal toy is speaking only nonsense words and not something a little more adult. Experts say the company may be right, and the curse words many hear may be tied to how our brains are primed to find words even when they’re not really there. The world’s largest hamburger chain and purveyor of Happy Meals said Friday that it doesn’t plan to take the talking Happy Meal ...

Health reportsPublic health officials inspect restaurants for foodborne illness risk factors and good retail practices. The following items were listed on reports for Pope County restaurants inspected between July 1 and Thursday. Thursday • Burger King, 1420 East Main Foodborne illness risk factors — Complied with all regulations at time of inspection. Good retail practices — Complied with all regulations at time of inspection. • Long John Silvers, 916 N Ar...

Tropical Smoothie added to RussellvilleA Community Development representative said a Tropical Smoothie will be built on North Arkansas Avenue next to Goodyear, where a former Mediterranean eatery was located.

Hotel update in RussellvilleGregg Long, vice president for Crafton Tull of Russellville, confirmed that a Courtyard by Marriott will be built on a lot on East Aspen Lane. Previously a hotel and then turned into apartments for Arkansas Tech University students, Russellville Properties LLC has split the property into two lots, one for the Courtyard by Marriott and another for another future business. Have you heard of a new business coming to Russellville? Email sean@couri...

Arkansas Dentistry & Braces set to open clinicA representative of Arkansas Dentistry & Braces confirmed Wednesday that a clinic is being built on West Main Street in Russellville. The corporate office of Arkansas Dentistry & Braces is located in Fayetteville, and there are 16 clinics throughout Arkansas: Benton, Bentonville, Brinkley, Blytheville, Clarksville, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Forrest City, two in Jonesboro, Paragould, Sheridan, Siloam Springs, Van Buren and two in West Memphis. ...

Technical disruptions plague national businessesBy JONATHAN FAHEY AP Business Writer NEW YORK — It was a rough day for tech: The nation’s biggest airline, its oldest stock exchange, and its most prominent business newspaper all suffered technology problems that upended service for parts of the day. Government officials said that it did not appear that the incidents were related, or the result of sabotage, counter to an endless stream of jokes and conspiracy theories posted on Facebook and T...

Labor statistics improveEmployment numbers and average weekly wages increased for the most part in Pope, Yell and Johnson counties in December 2014 and the fourth financial quarter, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ regular economic report. The total number of employed workers in Pope County rose from 26,626 in December 2013 to 27,156 in December 2014, a 2-percent increase of 530 individuals finding work. The average weekly wage in the county increase...

Big retailers feel pressure on Confederate flag merchandiseEven as national retailers pull Confederate flags from shelves and websites after the shooting deaths of nine black church members in South Carolina, manufacturers that produce the divisive symbol say that sales are now surging. "I don't sell the Confederate flag for any specific group, I just sell the flag," said Kerry McCoy, owner and president of Arkansas' FlagandBanner.com. "This is America. Everybody has a right to be represented whether ...

Tech, Google small business workshopThe Arkansas Tech Small Business and Technology Development Center (ATSBTDC) is offering a “Put Your Business on the Map with Google" workshop from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at Arkansas Tech University's Russellville campus. The workshop is being offered through a partnership with Google’s nationwide “Let's Put Our Cities on the Map” program, which is aimed at helping small businesses grow their online presence with workshops featuring hands...

Governor heading to Europe to recruit businessLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Thursday that he will leave this weekend for an economic development trip to France and Germany to recruit foreign companies to bring their operations to Arkansas. The weeklong trip will tout the state's aerospace and steel production industries with stops at the Paris Air Show and the METEC International Metallurgical Trade Fair in Dusseldorf, Germany. Hutchinson, who is leaving Saturday, s...

Federal judge: Wal-Mart violated state minimum wage lawsSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Wal-Mart could be on the hook for more than $100 million in back pay after a federal judge ruled the company failed to pay California minimum wage to truck drivers for activities that included inspecting and washing their trucks, an attorney said Wednesday. The ruling came after the company argued that the drivers are paid for particular activities that include those tasks. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston sided with the ...

Independence County receives $1.25 million economic grantBATESVILLE (AP) — The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration has announced a $1.25 million grant to Independence County to be used for infrastructure improvements near a poultry feed mill. The grant was announced Saturday in Batesville by Gov. Asa Hutchinson, U.S. Sen. John Boozman and U.S. Rep Rick Crawford. The funding will be used for infrastructure such as an access road and a rail spur near Ozark Mountain Poultr...

Wal-Mart keeps it all in the family, chair passed to PennerFAYETTEVILLE (AP) — Wal-Mart is passing the chairmanship of the world's largest retailer from the eldest son of late founder Sam Walton to a third generation. The company said that board Chairman Rob Walton will step down and be succeeded by Vice Chairman Greg Penner, who is his son-in-law. The change took effect at the end of the company's annual shareholders' meeting Friday and came despite pressures from labor-backed worker groups to name a...

Wal-Mart to let workers add denim pants to work wardrobeFAYETTEVILLE (AP) — Wal-Mart is hoping denim pants will raise the spirits of its more than 1.2 million U.S. store workers. Starting July 1, workers at the nation's largest private employer will now be able to wear khaki or black denim, in addition to the slacks of the same color allowed before. Workers in more rigorous jobs like unloading merchandise or the garden area will be able to wear T-shirts and blue jeans. It's among several changes Wa...

Arkansas sees another surge in revenue in MayLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Another month of strong tax collections in every major category is keeping the state's revenue ahead of expectations and last year's numbers, Arkansas finance officials said Tuesday The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration said net available revenue in May totaled $335.9 million, which is $20.5 million above the same month last year and $40.3 million above forecast. The state's revenue for the fiscal year that b...

Next up for Wal-Mart pay raises: department managersNEW YORK (AP) — Wal-Mart is raising starting wages for more than 100,000 U.S. department managers and workers in its deli and other specialized departments. The moves mark the next wave of pay raises by the nation's largest private employer, which has been under pressure from labor-backed groups for the treatment of its workers. In February, it announced it was increasing minimum wages for entry-level and long-term hourly employees to at least...